First Snow

"Look! There's the Easter Bunny."

Saturday-- 12/11/10-- J.D. took Jonathan to see Santa at Brown Shoe. I had to supervise a room for the LSAT. So I missed out on Jonathan's first Santa visit. Apparently they had fun pointing at things. Jonathan did great. He didn't cry or fuss at all. He was busy looking at everything around him. Besides, he has never had any stranger anxiety.

Santa has a message for a sweet little boy

Santa wishes Jonathan a Happy Christmas! And shows what an amazing first year Jonathan has had.

Halloween

For Halloween we went to a little kids party at a local church. It was infinitely lame, but it's good Jonathan is only a baby, and lame still entertains him. He enjoyed watching the kids run around.

We came home and had trick-or-treaters until 8:45 p.m.

For Halloween Jonathan reused his crustacean costume. This time he also ate a brain!!! (I had a brain from my "Brain-guy" costume, and he really liked it, so it became his).

I hope you had a fun first Halloween son. We'll have more fun in the future, Mom and Dad promise.

4th of July!

My Funny Valentines

I fell in love again on Valentine's Day...

Today marks ten years since J.D. proposed. We've certainly come a long way. I love you J.D., and I love our life together.

This evening was a lot of fun. J.D. and Jonathan gave me surprise candy, flowers, and jewelry! They made me a "Hot Tamale" necklace! It's very cute.

And my favorite part of the day was all laughing together. So far, Jonathan seems to have my sense of humor, my love of the absurd. Now, granted he's just two months old, so most things are probably absurd to him, and it may be a wee bit early to "call it." But, we had a great laugh together.

We watched Iron Chef America. There was a crazy fast French chef on the challenger's side. His name was "Phillipe." J.D. dubbed him "Phillipe the bullet." I repeated "PhiLLLLippppe the BULLet!!!" to Jonathan, who burst into laughter. Soon we were both chortling in our joy. And J.D. had to laugh too, since there's nothing in the world so cute as a baby laughing.

It just makes me so happy to laugh with my two special guys. That was the best.

Happy Three Weeks

Tonight is Christmas Eve and Jonathan is three weeks old. We're hanging out together in the living room watching the "Greatest 100 Hits of the 90s" on VH1. I haven't laughed this much in awhile, from the commentary both on the show and J.D.'s and songs we haven't heard in forever... anyone remember "Rico Suave"? That was number 100. We both occasionally sing along, and Jonathan looks at us with his wide eyes. Sorry son, you're going to hear lots of 90s music. This evening Jonathan has enjoyed staring at the Christmas tree lights and chilling in his chair from Catherine, Michael, and Olivia -- thank you. He also peed on Dad, since Mom didn't put his diaper on tight enough. Overall, things are pretty good. Merry Christmas!

Santa's upcoming visit

St. Louis - KTVI FOX-2 - North Pole News

So Chic

I found this and thought I would share.

Apparently the song doesn't play for some, so here are the lyrics:

It's so chic to be pregnant at Christmas

I feel like the "round yon virgin" of yore,

'Cause though I have a warm bed to sleep in

There's no room for me when I go to the store.

'Cause the aisles are so narrow and crowded--

Christmas shopping has never been such a pain (gasp)

Here comes another Braxton-Hicks contraction

And I'm knockin' over knick-knacks again.

Oh, the salesclerks are so friendly this Christmas

One said, "Oh God, lady, don't have it here--"

Their discretion and manners go right out the door,

When I and my stomach appear.

People like to put their hands on my fundus,

And they want to know exactly when I'm due

I say, "Why do you care? Are you planning to be there?

I could use an extra labor coach or two!"

I am such fun at a party

Trying hard to get high on life

Desperately avoiding the smokers

Being introduced as someone's "little wife" (Not-so-little wife).

No, I enjoy being pregnant at Christmas

Though my identity is draining away

And if I ever get asked my opinion again

I'll simply smile and continue to...crochet?

It's so Biblical to be pregnant at Christmas,

No matter what stories you believe.

And I may suffer from gravid senilis...and heartburn and nausea and charlie horses and overwhelming fatigue...and frequent micturation and varicose veins and...swollen ankles and shortness...of breath...and that...tired, achy feeling in the grooooooin...

But I won't be alone on New Year's Eve!

Fa-La-La-La-La La-La La La!

It looks like this song is from an album called "Momnipotent," which includes other humorous selections:

1. I'm Babbling
2. It's So Chic to be Pregnant at Christmas
3. Memo to Droola
4. Child on Board
5. Suzy Money Gone Away
6. Everything Turn to Ratshit in My Life
7. Momnipotent
8. Stroller Ladies
9. Daughters of Feminists
10. Leonard Cohen's Never Gonna Bring My Groceries In
11. Mammas Have a Secret
12. The Children's Entertainer
13. Open That Can

Bastille Day

July 14, 2009: First Day in Paris

We arrived in Paris around 6:00 a.m. It had been a long flight, and we got little, if any, rest. Still, it was exciting, especially since our taxi driver seemed a bit on the insane side. J.D. snickered as I gave him half-teasing, concerned looks for our safety on the ride from the airport. Overall, J.D. appreciated the Paris drivers for making him look like an absolute saint behind the wheel.

Our taxi dropped us off near the Sofitel Arc de Triomphe, on 14 rue Beaujon. We had to walk a little way with our bags since the Champs-Élysées was closed and currently occupied by what looked like all of France's military. The streets were shockingly quiet. It seemed like just J.D. and I moving freely among the entire armed forces. Soon we dropped off our bags at our hotel, and we wandered down the Champs-Élysées to find a spot for the parade. By now, 8:30 a.m., people were crowding the streets. We found a spot that was already 4-5 people deep, but they were shorter than us, so it seemed like the best we would find. After waiting for some time, 10:00 a.m., a line of uniformed soldiers on beautiful horses rode by. They were impressive.













Then at 10:30 a.m. jets flew over with the French tricolors. Different waves of planes and jets followed. (J.D. identified them for me). We saw more tanks, military jeeps, loaders, and other equipment. There were many saluting men decorated like banana republic generals. But by this time, around 11:30 a.m. I began to feel very tired. The people were pressing in close. Many were trying to push in front, and a woman behind me kept chomping her gum right in my ear. I told J.D. I needed a break and went to stand beside a building. He joined me, and we decided we'd seen enough. We went back to the Sofitel and fell asleep for a few hours.















After resting we got ready and walked to the Arc de Triomphe. J.D. was excited, and I love seeing him so happy. We walked around the base taking pictures and then climbed the narrow, winding staircase inside to the very top. From our bird's eye view of Paris, we oriented ourselves to the layout of the city. We noticed how all the avenues shoot out like sun rays from the Arc de Triomphe. I told J.D. about what little I knew of the politics behind widening the streets, which I believe was basically to make riots and barricades more difficult and to enable marching troops down-- as we had seen illustrated earlier in the day. For dinner we found a little restaurant named Sir Winston's. We had tried another place earlier, but the waiter was chasing a little mouse out the front door, so we decided to move along. (The little mouse did get away. I was afraid for a moment that I would witness him being killed.) We learned another lesson at dinner. We learned to ask specifically for "tap water"-- otherwise we would receive a bottle of water for 5 euros!

Then we were off to see the Bastille Day fireworks. If people were crowded for the parade earlier, it seemed like nothing compared to the crowds now. However, we luckily stumbled upon a spot by the Trocadero with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. We found a spot to sit for me, although J.D. preferred to stand. He would occasionally play with my hair or rub my neck as we waited. Around 10:45 p.m. the show began when the sky was still a little light. Then in spite of the crowds, it was magic. It was easily the most lovely fireworks either of us had ever seen. The finale made me exclaim: "Beautiful!"

After the show we clung to each other as the flood of bodies began to move. We found our way home for the night and reviewed the video J.D. took of the fireworks. His video captured it much better than my pictures did, although I really tried. :)

On my pillow at the hotel was a little teddy bear. He came with a goodnight story, a quotation by Jacqueline Mabit: "Dreams are always the start of something." We ate our complimentary macarons and fell asleep quickly, looking forward to the day ahead.

My First Mother's Day

The smell of something delicious woke me this morning. J.D. greeted me at the dining room doorway with a kiss and "Happy Mother's Day baby's mama." He had the table set and a special breakfast made. We ate together and enjoyed homemade waffles, scrabbled eggs, skim milk, and a small glass of orange juice. After a good meal with our silly kitties running around our feet, J.D. cleared everything and washed the dishes. And I got to lie back down and relax.

It was very sweet. I have to admit, I sort of wondered if he had anything planned. Knowing J.D., I thought he would. But I decided not to say anything and just see.

I'm lucky. I yoked my soul to one of the very best.

Easter Pictures!

I finally got around to uploading pictures from Easter. Thanks Catherine, Michael, and Olivia for visiting us! We had a lot of great times.

What's inside the Lady Bug Easter Egg?

The Easter Bunny left fun, silly things!

Riding the Carousel at the Butterfly Garden.

It was a fast moving Merry-go-round!

WEEE! Crazy banana chair fun.

What a cute smile and laugh.

Hunting Easter Eggs. . . .

Has anyone seen one more Easter Egg around here?

Hugs from the Girl Scouts.

Sophie loves going out around 5:00 to greet J.D. She also loves rolling around in the gravel/dirt/general filth. Right now she's yowling to go play outside. Maybe I'll have to read outside today and let her run up and down the back stairs.

Brighter day

Although rainy, today is going to be a much better day. I'm so happy that Catherine, Michael, & Olivia are coming to see us for Easter! What better time for hope to rise again? Thank you also to all my friends & family for your support and love. Everything is going to be ok.

Well, back to cleaning and laundry! :)

Homemade Valentines

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love. ~ Lao Tzu

These are the Valentines I made for J.D.'s Great-Aunt Juanita and her fellow residents at the assisted-living home we visited. I don't know any of the other people there, but I thought that perhaps it would be nice for them to receive a card, even from a stranger.